Jean-Baptiste Blanchard

(Duchesne).

A French Jesuit and educator, born 12
October, 1731, at Tourteron in the department of Ardennes; died 15
June, 1797. In 1746 he entered the Society of Jesus, and later was
professor at Metz, Verdun, and Pont-à-Mousson. At the time
of the suppression of the Society he changed his name of Duchesne
to that of Abbe' Blanchard, under which his works were published.
He left the order, however, in 1762, before it was suppressed,
retired to Belgium, and for seven years remained near Namur,
occupied with pedagogical questions. He wrote "Le temple des
Muses fabulistes" (Liège, 1776, 2 vols.) and "L'Ecole
des moers" (Namur and Paris, 1775, 2 vols.). The latter work
was first published without the author's name under the title,
"Les poète des moeurs, ou les maximes de la
sagesse..." (1771), and later was reprinted several times
with the title "Maximes des l'honnête homme, ou les
poète des moeurs." Blanchard's main work was published
after his death by Bruyset, "Préceptes pour
l'éducation des deux sexes à l'usage des families
chrétiennes" (Lyon, 1803, 2 vols.); a new edition in
1807 was entitled "Education chrétienne à
l'usage de l'un et de l'autre sexe." Blanchard adopts to
Christian education the principle found in Rousseau's "Emile."
In the work there is little originality; yet, besides judiciously
chosen questions, we find very useful suggestions and good
criticisms of Rousseau's views. It is divided into three parts:
physical education, moral education, and education of girls. Great
importance is attached to physical culture, health, hygiene of the
whole organism, and of the special sense-organs. Useful rules are
given for the formation of intellect, feelings, and will. Good
pronunciation and reading are insisted on. Blanchard rightly
rejects the principal of negative education advocated by Rousseau.
It would be very harmful to wait until reason develops to make the
child exercise it; on the contrary, it must be developed by proper
exercise and under proper guidance. To start for a long journey,
he says, the traveler does not wait until the sun is high in the
sky, but rather profits by the first rays of light; so it must be
with the child. As to the education of women, Blanchard's views
seem rather narrow today. Woman is made for dependence. Her
instruction must be limited to a few elementary notions; Fénelon's
principals and the "Avis d'une màre à sa fille"
of Madame de Lambert, which Blanchard reproduces, must form the
basis of her moral education.